Self-releasing nut starter



Dec. 29, 1953 Filed Feb. 1, 1951 K. D. CLAYSON SELF-RELEASING NUT STARTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

ATTD RNEYS Dec. 29, 1953 K. D. CLAYSON SELF-RELEASING NUT STARTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1, 1951 w 83! 7 4 1 O 9% 0 1 7 We 4 "a a v. Ad a, W Jv/// a;

1% If? 79' m ATTD R N EYS Patented ec. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

i'he present invention relates to special tools for handling and positioning threaded fasteners, and more particularly to a self-releasing starter for threaded fasteners such as nuts and bolts having various types of square and polygonal shapes.

One object of the invention is to provide a tool for frictional-1y gripping and retaining a threaded fastener such as a nut 01' headed bolt to facilitate positioning of said threaded fastener with respect to a corresponding male or female threaded member to initiate the threading action and starting the threaded member on the corresponding threads of the other member.

Another object is to provide a tool for starting and initiating the threading of complementary threaded members in inaccessible locations or positions in various radio and television installations during repair or assembly, and

where component parts of the assembly render it extremely dii'ficult to start and place threaded members such as nuts and the like on various terminals and structural elements.

Another object is to provide a self-releasing nut and bolt starter for threaded fasteners having square and polygonal shapes which will frictionally grip the corner edges of the threaded fastener and yieldingly hold the same in position during the thread initiating or starting action.

Another object is to provide a self-releasing threaded fastener starter for initiating the coupling of threaded fasteners having a spiral friction gripping member for yieldingly and frictionally gripping the corner edges of square and o polygonal nuts, cap screws and headed bolts in which the spiral convolutions of the coil spring are in a direction such that rotation in a right hand direction when applying a threaded fastener will cause the convolutions to more tightly and frictionally grip the threaded fastener and prevent the same from becoming displaced during the initial threading action.

Another object is to provide a self-releasing threaded fastener starter for socket-type wrenches having enclosed jaws for frictionally and yieldingly gripping the head of a threaded fastener or a nut to facilitate positioning and starting the initial threading action with a correspondingly threaded fastener.

Another object is to provide a self-releasing threaded fastener retaining device for frictionally gripping square and polygonal nuts, bolt heads and similar threaded fasteners in the cavity of a socket wrench having a nut receiving recess so that the threaded fastener will be yieldingly and frictionally held therein when applying the threaded fastener to a correspondingly threaded male or female member.

Another object is to provide a retaining de- Vice for frictionally gripping nuts and the heads of various shaped screws and bolts having a coil spring arranged such that the inner periphery of the coil spring oonvolutions will engage the corner edges of the nuts and bolts to provide mutually engaging circumferentially spaced gripping surfaces.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a selfreleasing threaded fastener starter showing a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the manner in which the coil spring or friction gripping element is mounted therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing a self -releasing threaded fastener starter having a removable handle, and illustrating the manner in which the coil spring is arranged to yieldingly and frictionally grip a threaded fastener such as a nut for initiating the threading action with relation to a bolt or stud.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 illustrating the square opening in the body of the device for receiving the removable handle.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on line lof Figure 2 and looking in in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the manner in which the coil spring frictionally and yieldingly engages the corner edges of a nut of polygonal or hexagonal shape.

Figure 5 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of another modified form of the invention in which the head of the device is provided with an annular recess, the inner and outer walls of which are mutually threaded for receiving the threaded fastener gripping spring.

Figure 6 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the form the invention shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentar cross-sectional view of another modified form of the invention similar to Figure 5, but showing spring formed of wire of flat or oval sectional shape.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a still further modified form of the invention in which the body portion of the threaded fastener retaining member is provided with an annular recess having plain internal and external walls. and showing the body provided with a square opening to receive a socket wrench or similar tool.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the form of the invention shown in Figure 8, further showing the square opening in the body for receiving a socket wrench having a corresponding sectional shape.

Figure 10 18a diametral cross-sectional view of a still further modified form of the invention showing the threaded fastener gripping device applied to a socket wrench of the enclosed jaw type.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the invention shown in Figure 10, illustrating the closed jaw faces for accommodating nuts of various dimensions and shapes and also showing the square opening in the body of the wrench for receiving a wrench handle.

Figure 3.2 is a diametral cross-sectionalv view of a socket wrench showing the manner in which the yielding spring is arranged in frictional, engagement with a nut when the same is presented to a correspondingly threaded bolt or stud for being threaded thereon.

. thin nuts or bolts which have smail heads.

Figure 14 is a diametral cross-sectional view taken on line llii i of Figure 13 and looking in the direction of the arrows to illustrate the manner in which the threaded. fastener retention spring is mounted in the annular recess intermediate the ends of the enclosed jaw faces.

Figure 15 is fragmentary cross seetional view taken on the radial line i5-i5 of Figure 13 and showing the manner in which the retenion device projects beyond the jaw faces of the wrench at certain spaced apart locations.

Figure 16 is a diametrai cross-sectional View similar to Figure 14 and showing the manner in which a threaded fastener such as a hexagonal nut is releasably and frictionally held between the jaws of the socket wrench, and

Figure 17 is a sectional View showing several different shapes of wire for making the spring member.

In the drawings, and more. particularly Figure .1, there is shown one embodiment of the invention inwhich the self-releasing threaded fastoner gripping tool is formed as aunit. The tool comprises an elongated shank ii having a handle 6 at one end and a body portion of enlarged diameter l at the opposite end. The body portion 7 is circular or preferably round and is provided with an internal bore 3 which may be threadedif desired for receiving a coil spring. 5. Thecoil spring 9 has its upper convolutions receivedin the cavity 8, and in the event, that the wall of i the cavity 8 is plain the coil springs will. be

formed slightly larger in diameter. than the internai diameter of the cavity a to retain the up- Y per end of the coil spring t in place. Thelower end of the coil spring a has its convolutions projecting beyond the head or body and is arranged to receive a square or polygonalthreaded fastener such as a nut or the head ofasimilarly shaped bolt.

In view of the fact that the coil spring 9 hasa circularinner diameter the corner edges of the threaded fastener suchas a nut .or bolt tool, and the lower end of the coil spring e lightly smaller than the diameter from corner 0 corner of threaded fa...- teners so that the coil spring 9 will frictionally, releasably and yieldingly retain a threaded fastener in place when the same is presented to the corresponding threads of another threaded fastener. Ihus, the tool may be used to nuts and the like on the ends oi bolts and studs or other threaded fastener eiements fter the threaded fastener has been tightened in place, the tool may be removed a wrench applied to turn the threaded fastener home.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FiguresZ, 3 and i, the tool ccnipr'ses a shank it? having a handle at one end as before and a lower squared portion i i. The squared portion 5 i is adapted toloe received in an opening it of corresponding shape in the body portion :3 of the of the body portion it is recessed to provide a cavity it, having an enlarged mouth portion 35.

Extending inwardly the rrouth portion it is an annular cavity or recess itfcr receiving a coii spring ii which has its upper covoiutions frictionaily held between the internal external walls of the annular recess it as shown in Fi ure 2. The lower convolutions of the coil spring i? project beyond the body if; at the lot end thereof and portions thereof are exposed to the internal cavity The coil spring ii is form d to provide an internal diameter with the convolutions closely spaced slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the square or poiygona-i nut for which the device is intended. As shown in Figs. 2 and e the coil spring it has its lower convolutions in yielding frictional engagement with a nut N which is hexagonal in shape and hence, the nut corner edges engage the inner convolutions of the coil spring at circumferentialiy spaced apart locations pro iding mutually engaging friction surfaces. When the nut N is presented to the correspondingly threaded end of a bolt B and turned thereon the nut N will be started on the threads of the bolt B. The turning movement may continue until the friction between the coil spring H and the nut is overcome, after which the tool maybe removed and a conven tional socket wrench applied to seat the nut.

. the body 22 may be removably heid thereon.

Extending upwardly from one end of the round body 22 is an annular recess 2d, the confronting convex and concave interior walls 25 it of which are mutually threaded, for receiving the upper convolutions of a threaded fastener gripping spring 2? which has its convoiutions. closely spaced with the upper convolutions r ceived between the mutually threaded internal and external walls 25 and of the annular recess OlQhdIr .n'el 25, while its lower convolutions extend foelow the lower edge of the round body 22. In so, the device receives a nut so that the coil spring 2i will releasably and frictionally engage the corner edges to facilitate the initial starting when the threaded fastener is presented to a correspondingly threaded male member.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure'i, the tool embodies a removable handle 35 having a reduced squared portion 36 which is adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped central opening 3; in the round body portion 38. The round body portion 38 is provided with an annular recess extending inwardly from the lower end thereof to provide external and internal opposite walls which are threaded, as at 40 and 4|, for receiving the internal and external rounded portions of a coil spring 42. The coil spring 42 is formed of flattened wire with its convolutions in closely spaced relation, whereby the coil spring #92 may have its upper convolutions threadedly received in the external and internal threaded walls iii and ii of the annular cavity 39. The lower convolutions of the flattened coil spring 42 project beyond the lower end of the body portion for friotionally gripping a nut or bolt head of a threaded fastener so that the same can be presented to a correspondingly threaded opposite member.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 8 and 9 the round body portion 45 is provided with a centra. opening it of square shape (Fig. 9) for removably receiving one end of a socket wrench or handle having a corresponding crosssectional shape. Extending inwardly from one end of the round body portion 45 is an annular recess d8 providing confronting convex and concave walls and 56, respectively, for receiving the upper closely spaced convolutions of a threaded fastener gripping coil spring 5|. The confronting walls l9 and 58 of the annular recess or cavity is may be radially spaced a distance slightly less than the cross-sectional diameter of the coil spring convolutions so that the upper convolutions of the coil spring will be irictionally held in place, while the lower convolutions project beyond the lower end of the round body as for irictionally and yieldingly gripping the corner edges of a threaded fastener head or nut.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 the invention is applied to a sockettype or closed jaw wrench, and as before includes a round body portion 55 having a central opening E3 which is square in shape to receive a socket wrench handle of corresponding cross-section. Extending upwardly and inwardly of the body portion is a cavity provided with a plurality of angular facets 5? which are arranged in circumferentially spaced apart relation to provide jaw portions (Fig. 11) for receiving the corner edges of a threaded fastener head or nut. The facets 5i extend for a portion of their length into the cavity 5% in the body portion 55 and said cavity is enlarged as at E9 to form an annular recess for receiving a nut gripping helical coil spring '59. The convolutions of the coil spring 6| are closely spaced and are arranged to frictionally engage the corner edges of a threaded fastener head or nut so as to irictionally and releasably retain the threaded fastener with its corner edges engaged by the jaw faces 58, while the threaded fastener is being presented to an opposite correspondingly threaded fastener. In use, a hexagonal or square nut is placed in the socket 59 with its corner edges engaged by both thejaw faces of the socket wrench and the inner periphery of the coil spring convolutions to retain the nut in place. In Figure 12, the nut N is illustrated as being frictionally held in the socket 59 with the upper portion of the hexagonal nut engaged by the coil spring, and the lower portion engaged by the circumferentially spaced apart jaw faces 51. When the socket Wrench 55 is applied to a bolt B the nut N will be held in the socket wrench and by turning the same in the usual manner, said nut will be threaded on the bolt B and tightly seated thereon. As the nut moves down the bolt, it also moves axially outward with respect to the socket wrench 55, and is thus forced out of the coil spring 6!, which automatically releases its gripping frictional engagement with the corner edges of the nut.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 13 to 16 inclusive, the invention is illustrated as applied to a socket wrench having closed jaws of a relatively shallow depth for accommodating nuts or threaded fasteners of relatively thin section. The tool comprises a socket wrench body it having a central cavity Ii similar to the cavity 59 in Figure 10. The body portion 10 is likewise round and is provided with a central square opening (not shown) for receiving a socket Wrench handle. The portion of the internal cavity 7! is provided with spaced apart upper and lower inwardly extending flanges '13 and M which are provided with a series of angular facets It to form nut engaging jaws It. The space between the annular inwardly directed flanges 73 and 7:3 provides an annular recess 18 for receiving a coil spring the internal convolution diameter of which is slightly less than the seats of the aw h, s, jaw faces are provided on opposite sides of the helical nut engaging coil spring to frictionally retain a nut N when the same is presented to a correspondingly threaded belt or stud B. When the nut N" is received in the socket wrench body it, the upper and lower faces of the nut are engaged by the jaw faces 15 at the corner areas, and the corners of the nut N" are frictionally and yieldingly engaged by tr e helical coil spring '29 so as to retain the nut in position while the same is being presented to a correspondingly threaded bolt or stud B" for being threaded thereon (Fig. 16).

In all forms of the invention the helical spring is arranged in an annular recess in the body portion of the tool so that the inner convolutions of the helical coil spring will engage the corner edges of a square or polygonal nut, machine bolt head or the like, so as to frictionally grip the threaded fastener when applied to an opposite threaded fastener having corresponding threads and thus initiate the couplirr threading action between said threaded fasteners.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 17, there is shown several alternative shapes for the wire used in making the spring m mber. Thus, the numeral indicates a piece of wire which is flat on three sides and round on one end. Further, the nuzneral 3i designates a portion of wire stock which is pointed on one end, and which has a flat top and bottom and one rounded end. Finally, the numeral 32 indicates a piece of wire stock which is pointed on two ends and which has a fiat top bottom. In other words, the wire for making the spring could be of any desired shape. Further, the shape of the spring itself would not necessarily have to be round, since it could correspond to the shape of the head of the fastener with which it is designed to be used. Further, the invention can be made without or with a skirt, as desired.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described in the accompanying drawings and specification are to be taken as preferred embodiments thereof, and that various changes in the shape, size and arscope of the suhjoined claims. The toolofthe present invention is self-releasing because after manual rotation of 'the tool will cause'thespring member to automatically become --disen'gaged from the nut whereby the spring'is-self-releasin I claim:

1. a tool for applying t -readed' fasteners in taco ole "locations; a shank, a handle onone end or" said shank, a head reniovahly affixed to the other end or the shank, said head having spaced and cotironting interior walls forming an axially e ng annular recess, a'helical" coil spring hav ts upper convolutions' received in said annular-recess and its lowenconvolutions extending beyond said recess to yieldingly' and irlctionally engagethe corner edges oi-nuts'and the heads of other threaded fasteners, the confronting is of said recess being provided with mutually arranged threads for threaded-1y iuceiving said 001 spring.

2. In a tool for applying threaded fasteners in inaccessble loc ticns, a shanlga handle on one end of .c sharia, a headon the opposite end of the shank, said head having an interior Wall forming an axially extending opening and -a helical coil spring having some of its convolutions positioned in said opening and contacting said interior wall, said spring having, its axis coincident with the shank axis, other convolutions of said spring projecting beyond said opening for yielding'ly and friction-ally engaging the corner edges cithreaded. fasteners such as. nuts and the notices been applied to theboltpcontinued 5 -cessheing.mutuallyxthreaded, and a helical coil .spring formed of-Wire of flat section having some 0 5 itszccnvolutions 'threadedly received in said "recess andhaving'the remainder of its convo1utions projecting from the tool head to yieldingly andfrictionallyengag'e. the corner edges of nuts Number :zina'cces'sible locations, a shank, autool head .on :said shank, said-tool head having spaced and -..confronting interior'walls forming an annular recess extending inwardly from one end thereoipthe confronting and interior walls of said reing a square opening ill-0X18 end for receiving a correspondingly shaped portion of said'sha'nk,

said tool head being providedwith spacedand f confronting interior walls forming an annular recess extending inwardly from the other end thereof, and a helical coil spring having its con volutions irictionally held in said recess adjacent one end of said spring and its other convolutions projecting-from said head to yielding- 2oly and frictionallyengage the corner edges of nuts and the heads of other threaded fasteners while positioning the same.

IZEDWETH D. CLAYSON.

Name Date Lombard Feb. 1, 1879 Lower Mar. 7, 1911 Prestek Mar. 25, 1924 Lee May 12, 1925 Du Cher-1e July 30, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 12, 1926 Number 

